Resolutions

Raise your hand, if ringing in the New Year always feel like a fresh start? January 1st is like a blank page, a new beginning, a reliable moment in time where you can say, “Ok, enough of that. Let’s try this.” Or, if I can be a little more candid: “Fuck you 2017. Let’s do this 2018!”

New Year’s Day and the first day of school. They are usually the same for me. A fresh start; a renewed sense of self, and all the energy in the world to make shit happen.

So imagine my surprise, when January 1st, 2018 was on the horizon, and there was no renewed sense of self. No energy. No inspiration. No concrete ideas, or goals to strive for, and no idea WHY nothing was coming to mind.

A few weeks into the New Year, I think I have figured it out. While I was waiting for inspiration to strike, I didn’t realize that the end of 2017 was wiping me out.
I could write paragraphs about how this was true. The holiday stress, the weather, all the tired mom moments, and the klutzy accident prone ones… You would laugh, maybe cry – I did both – but I’ll spare you and cut to the chase: I was cold and exhausted.

On New Year’s Eve I had a conversation about resolutions. Did anyone have any for this year? What were they?

I was surprised that the group of people I was with didn’t make them. The reason why was interesting to me: “Why set yourself up for failure?”

Looking back, I’m surprised I was surprised by this, and I think it speaks volumes of my general naïveté and optimism. But it makes total sense, right?

How many people do you know who start going to the gym on January 1st? How many of them are still showing up on February 1st? March 1st?

When the question inevitably flipped back to me: “What about you? Do you have any resolutions this year?” The response to my answer was equally enlightening.

Since I had no plans for my “fresh start” I responded: “I really want to finish this book.”

“That’s a resolution I can get behind. It’s concrete. It’s attainable.”

A few days later, upon reflection of this moment, I realized I had some answers. My annual burst of energy had finally arrived.

Don’t set yourself for failure. Reach for something attainable, or maybe something just out of reach that you’re grazing with your fingertips. Don’t reach for the stars, but start building a ladder. Build a step, take a step.

Therefore, I do not have a New Year’s resolution. I have Q1 goals. Both personal and professional. They are not huge. They are not big. They are achievable tasks that point me, and my business in the right direction: Up.